Combination umbrella holder animal garment

ABSTRACT

A combination umbrella holder and animal garment comprises a sheath and sheet. The sheath receives and houses a foldable umbrella and comprises an inner portion and an outer portion. The sheet is attached to the sheath and foldable into and out of the inner portion thereof. The sheet comprises a greater width dimension than a width dimension of the sheath, such that the sheet is sized to cover a portion of a body of an animal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a multi-purpose umbrella holder and moreparticularly to an umbrella holder that converts into an animal garment.This utility patent application claims domestic priority from U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/823,161 filed Aug. 22, 2006.

BACKGROUND

Pet care, especially the care of dogs, dictates that pet owners walktheir pets at various times throughout the day. In the case of inclementweather, pet owners often use an umbrella to protect themselves andtheir pets from the elements, particularly rain and/or snow. The size ofthe umbrella, however, may be inadequate to provide coverage to the pet.Additionally, the pet often walks ahead of the owner, out of theprotective range of the umbrella. Thus, the pet is exposed to theelements.

There is a need for a device that not only protects pet owners frominclement weather, but also provides at least some cover for the animalsin their care.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved umbrella holder comprisingan animal garment adapted to help protect pets from inclement weather.

In one embodiment, the umbrella holder and animal garment device of thepresent invention comprises a sheath for receiving and housing afoldable umbrella, the sheath comprising an inner portion and an outerportion and a sheet attached to the sheath, the sheet foldable into theinner portion and out of the inner portion. The sheet of this embodimentcomprises a greater width dimension than a width dimension of thesheath, such that the sheet is sized to cover a portion of a body of ananimal. The sheet is typically sized to cover substantially all of a topportion of a torso of the animal and may comprise nylon.

In another embodiment, the umbrella holder and animal garment devicecomprises a sheath comprising a base portion and opposing sidewallsdefining a channel therebetween for receiving a foldable umbrella, thesheath further comprising a seam positioned between the base portion andthe opposing sidewalls, the opposing sidewalls being foldable about theseam and a sheet foldable into the channel. An outer portion of thesheath is typically foldable about the seam. The sheet of thisembodiment is connected to the seam and comprises a width dimensiongreater than a width dimension of the channel such that the sheet issized to cover a portion of a body of an animal when the sheet isremoved from the channel.

The foregoing embodiments may be modified in various ways. The sheathmay further comprise a fastening member of at least one of hook and looparrangement, a zipper, buttons and combinations thereof. Such anarrangement is used to secure the sheath around the umbrella. The sheetoptionally comprises a hood for covering at least a portion of a head ofan animal. The hood may be tightened around the head of the animal witha drawstring. The sheet may further comprise a securement member toreleasably secure the sheet to the body of the animal. The securementmember may take the form of at least two straps releasably securable toboth hind legs of the animal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the presently claimed invention are illustratedby the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the figuresare not necessarily to scale and that details that are not necessary foran understanding of the invention or that render other details difficultto perceive may be omitted. It should be understood, of course, that theinvention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodimentsillustrated herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination umbrella holder animalgarment of the present invention carrying a foldable umbrella;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1, with the fastener member in an openstate and the foldable umbrella positioned adjacent thereto;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 1, with the sheet folded out of thesheath;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the FIG. 3, with the sheet positioned ona torso of a dog.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The combination umbrella holder/animal garment of the present inventionmay be used to receive and carry a foldable umbrella and alternativelyas a garment for an animal, such as a dog. The device enables pet ownersto conveniently protect themselves and their pets from inclementweather. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, combination device 10 comprisessheath 12, fastening member 14, sheet 16 and securement members 18. Theterm sheath, as used herein, means an enveloping tubular structure forreceiving and holding a foldable umbrella.

Sheath 12 comprises inner portion 20 and outer portion 22. Sheath 12 mayfurther comprise base portion 24, opposing sidewalls 26, seam 28 andloop 30. Base portion 24 and opposing sidewalls 26 define channel 27therebetween. Seam 28 is typically positioned between base portion 24and opposing sidewalls 26, with opposing sidewalls 26 being foldableabout seam 28. Seam 28 may be continuous and encircle sheath 12. Loop 30may be utilized to hang device 10 from a hook or other apparatus.Depending on user needs, the dimensions of sheath 12, may of course,vary. Sheath 12 may, for example, comprise a length dimension greaterthan about 10.0 inches and more particularly between 10.0 inches and40.0 inches.

Sheath 12 may further comprise fastening member 14 for securing opposingsidewalls 26 about a foldable umbrella. Fastening member 14 is at leastone of a hook and loop arrangement, a zipper and buttons andcombinations thereof. Other fastening members known to those of skill inthe art may also be employed.

Sheet 16 is attached to sheath 12 and foldable into and out of innerportion 20. Sheet 16 comprises top portion 34 and bottom portion 36.Sheet 16 may also comprise a greater width dimension than a widthdimension of sheath 12, such that sheet 16 is sized to cover a portionof a body of an animal. As shown in FIG. 5, sheet 16 may be sized tocover substantially all of a top portion of a torso of the animal aswell as at least a portion of the sides of the torso of the animal.Sheet 16 may further comprise hood 38 for covering at least a portion ofa head of an animal. Drawstring 40 may be provided in connection withhood 38 for tightening hood 38 around the head of the animal.

Sheet 16 may further comprise securement member 18, which may beintegrally formed therewith. Securement member 18 is adapted toreleasably secure sheet 16 to the body of the animal. In one embodiment,securement member 18 comprises at least two straps releasably securableto both hind legs of the animal. Securement member 18 may also comprisea drawstring securable about the torso of the animal or a bandcomprising a complementary hook and loop arrangement securable in asimilar manner.

Device 10, including sheath 12 and sheet 16, may be constructed ofwaterproof nylon. Device is typically stitched together by methods knownto those of skill in the art.

In operation, device 10 may be utilized to serve dual purposes—(1)umbrella holder and (2) animal garment.

To utilize device 10 as an umbrella holder, a foldable umbrella ispositioned within sheath 12. Fastening member 14 may then be used tosecure opposing sidewalls 26 about the foldable umbrella. Thisarrangement is shown in FIG. 1.

When inclement weather arises, pet owners may remove the foldableumbrella housed within device 10, and use sheath 12 to cover the torsoof their pets. To utilize device 10 as an animal garment, fasteningmember 14 is opened and foldable umbrella removed, as shown in FIG. 2.Thereafter, sheet 16 is folded out of inner portion 20, over opposingsidewalls 26 and placed into a fully open position, as shown in FIG. 3.At this point, outer portion 22 of sheath 12 is positioned on bottomsurface 36 of sheet 16. In this configuration, sheet 16 may bereleasably secured over the torso of an animal. FIG. 5 illustratessecurement members 18 positioned over the hind legs of the animal anddrawstring 40 tightened about the neck of the animal.

After use of device 10 as an animal garment is complete, it may beremoved and once again used as an umbrella holder. To remove theembodiment of device 10 shown in FIG. 5, the hind legs of the animal arelifted out of securement members 18 and drawstring 40 is loosened sothat drawstring may slide over the head of the animal. Once device hasbeen removed from the animal, opposing sidewalls 26 may be rotated aboutseam 28 and over sheet 16. The user may then readily fold sheet 16entirely into inner portion 20 of sheath 12.

Variations, modifications and other implementations of what is describedherein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, theinvention is in no way limited by the preceding illustrativedescription.

1. An umbrella holder and animal garment comprising in combination: asheath for receiving and housing a foldable umbrella, the sheathcomprising an inner portion and an outer portion; and a sheet attachedto the sheath, the sheet foldable into the inner portion and out of theinner portion, the sheet comprising a greater width dimension than awidth dimension of the sheath, such that the sheet is sized to cover aportion of a body of an animal.
 2. The combination of claim 1, furthercomprising a securement member attached to the sheet and adapted toreleasably secure the sheet to the body of the animal.
 3. Thecombination of claim 2, wherein the securement member comprises at leasttwo straps releasably securable to both hind legs of the animal.
 4. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises a fasteningmember of at least one of a hook and loop arrangement, a zipper, buttonsand combinations thereof.
 5. The combination of claim 1, wherein thesheet is sized to cover substantially all of a top portion of a torso ofthe animal.
 6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises ahood for covering at least a portion of a head of an animal.
 7. Thecombination of claim 5, further comprising a drawstring for tighteningthe hood around the head of the animal.
 8. The combination of claim 1,where in at least a portion of the sheet is constructed of nylon.
 9. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises a top surface and abottom surface and the outer portion of the sheath is positioned on thebottom surface when the sheet is positioned on the body of the animal.10. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a seam encircling thesheath and wherein the outer portion of the sheath is foldable about theseam.
 11. An umbrella holder and animal garment comprising incombination: a sheath comprising a base portion and opposing sidewallsdefining a channel therebetween for receiving a foldable umbrella, thesheath further comprising a seam positioned between the base portion andthe opposing sidewalls, the opposing sidewalls being foldable about theseam; and a sheet foldable into the channel, the sheet connected to theseam and comprising a width dimension greater than a width dimension ofthe channel such that the sheet is sized to cover a portion of a body ofan animal when the sheet is removed from the channel.
 12. Thecombination of claim 11, further comprising a fastening member forsecuring the opposing sidewalls about the foldable umbrella, wherein thefastening member is at least one of a hook and loop arrangement, azipper, buttons and combinations thereof.
 13. The combination of claim11, wherein the sheet is sized to cover substantially all of a topportion of a torso of the animal.
 14. The combination of claim 11,wherein the sheet comprises a hood for covering at least a portion of ahead of an animal.
 15. The combination of claim 14, further comprising adrawstring for tightening the hood around the head of the animal. 16.The combination of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the sheet isconstructed of nylon.
 17. The combination of claim 11, wherein the sheetcomprises a top surface and a bottom surface and the opposing sidewallsare positioned on the bottom surface when the sheet is positioned on thebody of the animal.
 18. The combination of claim 11, further comprisinga securement member attached to the sheet and adapted to releasablesecure the sheet to the body of the animal.
 19. The combination of claim18, wherein the securement member comprises at least two strapsreleasably securable to both hind legs of the animal.